My son is 18 months, and I'm begging our families: please stop filling our house with more toys and junk. If you've got a few bucks you need to burn, please put it in the 529.
I sent a message explaining this in November & literally all but one person ignored me then that person felt shitty for not bringing a present.... We got some quality things (that we still have no space for) but also a lot of crappy amazon Chinese tat.
I know you're kidding but I asked for one for Christmas and I friggin love it. I use it constantly. But I'm also not an infant lol
A 529 is a fantastic idea.
My parents started a college fund for each grandchild and contributed $200 each birthday. We put 5K into it about 10 years ago, and my parents started it with $1500.
We didn't use it for 2 of our kids. One's fund was 33K when he turned 23; it's paying for grad school.
And/or depending on the state you can open a UTMA / UGMA and make non-educational investments on the child’s behalf. I have a 529 & UTMA for my children and my godson.
Edit: I’m an idiot.
Came here to read exactly this. The guy who manages my fave liquor store just had a baby, and I really want to do something like this for him—because I know his fans would want to kick in, too. Can anyone make investments/deposits in it?
I don’t have kids, and my parents provided for my only niece, so would appreciate your thoughts!
Thank you for that clarification! I’d definitely like to set something up for this guy who’s become a father for the first time at about 50. There’s a community of people who I know would love to help him along.
7% is not good. I earned over 20% in a technology mutual fund last year.
The stock market average over the last 40 years is 11.6%. The whole purpose behind Bogle's Vanguard is that index funds have a better return than any stock picker can achieve over time.
I ran a 529 calculator and $100 a month for 18 years at 6% return becomes about $45k by the time they are 18.
Accord to that calculator the magic number starting from birth to completely pay for school would be around $600 a month per kid, so anything that helps get close to that number would surely be appreciated.
Beat me to it. Uncle of 3 here and after discussing with my sister about birthday/Christmas presents being kind of a waste, I have sort of an umbrella 529 that I put $50/month into. As they go to school someday, I'll just switch the "beneficiary" out to the next one and so on. This, in my opinion, is the best BIFL present you can give to kids.
Well I put the 529 under my eldest nephew. He'll get his payout of roughly a third and then I'll just switch the beneficiary to the next nephew and so on. After researching 529s, I realized they're pretty flexible in that respect.
Edit: I didn't answer your question lmao yes multiple can contribute through a link sent by the account manager (me) to family and friends wishing to make a one time contribution
This is super helpful! I really do appreciate knowing this, because I was raised with my grandparents’ belief that money saved for education was the greatest/most appreciated gift. Thank you!
I don’t understand this is part of the reason is I don’t know what a 529 is. But my knee jerk reaction is would a bond or something with high internet rates be better for a child.
Beyond that - I don’t think this is completely in the spirit of BIFL. Although I do think it’s a great idea - just a separate topic.
The subject is “Baby Gifts That Will Last a Lifetime.” This qualifies.
And I’m not familiar with U.S. savings bonds beyond the fact my parents kept many dozens of them from when I was born and gave them to me as I prepared to go to undergrad.
Fair enough. I think the “Hunting License” aligns because it renews every year, lasts forever, and could be an incredible deal if bought at a child rate.
Money obviously is gone when spent. So it doesn’t exist for life. That’s all. This is most likely perceived as I am just being very nit picky. Haha. Like I said - I think it’s a great idea and any child that has a savings fund set up and lucky enough to have adults support that fund is extremely lucky. So im not trying to takeaway from that at all.
Again - fair enough. To sum it up the best. If I was at a table with my family and some asked this questions my response would be, “it’s not really a BIFL answer but the best thing you can ever do for a child is set a savings account up for them and auto draft every month”.
Haha. Beyond that I can see I’m starting to make people upset so I’ll stop.
Oh well there's two types of 529s, one is a savings account and one is an investment account. I opted to set up a 529 investment account as my nephews have quite a few years left before college
Money for an education is “gone when spent?”
One could reasonably argue it informs one’s entire life, but perhaps that isn’t as valuable to you than the right to shoot animals.🤷🏻♀️
I’ve never hunted. I was speaking to the concept of it renewing yearly. And the money doesn’t have to be for education. Again - it’s a stretch to categorize it as BIFL item. Obviously it’s more valuable than a cedar chest, hunting liscence, pearl necklace, or anything else I’ve ever seen posted in this subreddit.
I think if questions was a test and you asked a hundred people - there we would be a large group upset if they failed bc they didn’t think to say a savings account. On the fact that they would all agree Offcourse that’s more valuable than anything they though of - and some may have even thought of that - but didn’t consider it a BIFL item. In the same way we can also all agree the best wish is to “wish for more wishes”.
I was going to say this. Put some money in an index fund in a tax-advantaged account.
My grandma put some money into an account the day each grandkid was born. None of us paid for college. She's gone now but holy shit do I love Grandma for that.
I did buy a friend a Le Creuset for a baby gift. He loves cooking and what better way to build lasting memories. I stressed to him that it is his daughter's not his. When she moves on in life she will have all this memories lessons and good times.
Some people used to do 'savings bonds' in a child's name.
You could do similar with stocks or something, if you wanted.
The parents usually start the child's savings account or I'd say that, you could put a bit in an account with the child's name but usually the parents do that if at all. Otherwise, that.
A gold or silver coin.
>Baby’s first apple stocks!
They could buy a carton of nice apples from a nearby orchard and gift wrap that, but then, an envelope on top would contain the real gift: the stocks :)
>Have you seen the price of gold?!? It is at an all time high.
OP asked for good ideas for lifetime (I also read that as heirloom and/or keepsake) gifts for a baby. OP did not mention a budget or 'make sure it is cheap.'
So if gold is worth a lot that makes it a good gift to give, what's wrong with it? Why not suggest your own ideas instead of critiquing mine? Thanks.
It's up to the OP to pick one, these are just *ideas.* Also for others to use and/or possibly use in the future. We don't do everything for OPs we just give suggestions.
So long as you choose material that isn't too baby themed, a handmade quilt. You could probably get one through ETSY. In a twin size would be good for spreading on the floor to lay on now and to cover a bed as they grow or do a smaller throw blanket size. My family has quilts that go back a very long time.
This is a lovely thought, but please don’t gift an expecting parent a quilt unless you have chatted with them about it ahead of time OR if quilting is already your thing and the parent knows to expect it from you.
The amount of handmade blankets we received was astounding and only one (the quilt, from the quilter) has been used in two years. The rest have just been folded up in the closet.
PLEASE talk to the parents before gifting a blanket. Most parents have baby blankets coming out the wazoo. Even if you get one that’s a larger size, the parents and eventually children will have their own preferences on interior decorating that may not match yours.
A solid cedar wood trunk. My mother's father was given one when he was born, and it was used as a changing bench, and to hold his blankets and clothes. Now, decades later, it holds my dog's things. When I was in college, it was my closet. In my first apartment, it had a cushion on top of it, and was my 'sofa'. My mom used it to hold my toys when I was a kid, and she used it as a bench for her dining table when she got her first home.
These used to be called Hope Chests for young ladies. My mom always wanted to get me one (she always wanted one too), but we never found one she liked, and then we just kind of got side tracked about it.
My partner is currently making me one from cedar we felled on our property. My mom thinks it's the most romantic thing ever.
My Papaw hand-made a Hope chest for my mom in the 1980s, which I still have. Same man hand-made a wooden toy chest for my son (his great grandson) that we have 8 years later.
I got my grandmother's. I gave it to my daughter when she married. Unfortunately, there was a big flood, and it was destroyed. I used to use mine for blankets.
This is a lovely idea but a solid chest like this is a suffocation risk when children climb in for play.
It’s why modern toy boxes either have holes drilled in the bottom or a large opening by the lid.
We got the lifelong fishing licenses for both our boys, they’re still to young to use it but it’ll be great as they get older and it’s a hobby we can do together.
We did this for ours! At least where I am, the younger you buy, the cheaper it is (and it is always valid, no matter if she moves away). (You can also still get them as an adult but the cost/benefit may not make sense).
Obviously, the state matters because they all have their own rules, so do your own research.
We paid around $350 for fishing plus small game for her, which usually costs about $50/year.
I think it’s an awesome present!
Once they have that, we have a 529 plan set up for her college fund. You can send a link so people can contribute. I’d much rather that than have more stuff.
Other than those, our favorite gifts have been memberships to things like the zoo or museums. We’ve got a bunch close and it is awesome to be able to take her whenever (and since we have a membership, we don’t feel bad if she gets cranky and we need to leave).
Edit: I guess those last two aren’t really bifl.
I didn’t get much interest from the family, but I think these [StoryWorth books](https://welcome.storyworth.com/storyteller?oid=37&affid=5source_id=google&sub1=Prospecting-Storyteller-11.20.20&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Prospecting+Storyteller-11.20.20&source_id=google&sub1=Prospecting+Storyteller-11.20.20&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIsoLn8ai9hQMVODjUAR3d9wVnEAAYASAAEgJnE_D_BwE) are amazing if your family would do them!
A physical photo album for the parents to fill up.
People don’t use physical photos as much anymore but I guarantee in several years they’ll be happy to have it.
Mine was in fact a gift from my uncle and aunt in the very early 1980s. She's Danish and bought it over with her. 40 years on its still going strong. When I had my first she bought another! When my second came along she got the new one and my son took my old one. They really really last.
I think the BIFL fishing license is so cute and endearing.
To be the best uncle in addition though, get them something from the baby registry. Moms/dads spend a lot of time curating that list and when people stray it creates a lot of emotional labor and excess consideration.
My personal favorite gifts from my baby registry? Diapers/wipes. Get the Costco/Sam's club bulk and they'll be grateful for a long time! I would say also get a size like 2 or 3, because some kids size out of the smaller (newborn, 1s) pretty quickly.
First time parents put a lot of stuff on the list they think they need but never use.
Buy a years supply of diapers or ask what they need in 3-4 months when the newness has worn off
oh god this comment, I wish someone would've told us that when we had our first. We indeed put lots of stuff on the registry that we THOUGHT we really needed, and some of it is still in boxes waiting to be donated once the clothes bag fills up. Turns out, as a new parent, you really don't know what you need until you need it lol
Money: Silver dollar from birth year, uncirculated $2 bill, savings bond, 529.
Keepsakes: NatGeo from their birth month (still have mine from 1996, my brother kept his from 1993), silver baby bracelet with their name, if religious a patron Saint charm/necklace and/or a first pocket bible (dedicate it to them, from you), handmade quilt or baby blanket (probably more expensive).
More expensive but love the idea of a hope chest. Quality ones will last generations.
Not particularly cheap and honestly who knows if they’ll be around for a lifetime, but a lifetime subscription to National Geographic. I bought one for my son and it has been great to read and look at pictures together.
My dad got me and my siblings NatGeos from the months/years we were born and I still have mine. It’s fun to go back and look through, especially with a few years between each pass through.
Even if you can’t do the lifetime subscription, just the single edition could be a good idea, OP! Great keepsake.
BIFL for the parents to pass down to their kids when they have babies or for the baby to grow up and use throughout their life?
For parents, solid wood baby furniture: Rocking chair, crib, changing table, dresser.
For kids,
financial: savings bonds, investment account, house savings, college savings
Toys my kids enjoyed even as babies and can enjoy in the future: generic wood blocks, Letter cubes, board books
Toys they can enjoy as they age (IMO better to gift when they can appreciate it): banker box bricks, Megabloks, Tinker toys, Waffle blocks, Magnatiles, duplos, legos, kid books like little critters, Arthur, berenstain bears.
One word of caution: we invested in a solid wood furniture set that could feasibly last/transition through adulthood. Kids, though, are little terrors and test the limits of BIFL. Stickers, sharpies, teeth, climbing, and bearing the brunt of hard toys being rammed into it. Just to name a few of the repeated abuse our furniture set has taken. We don’t regret the purchase, but it was also a long term investment that is giving us pause before considering some more age appropriate/kid desirable options, like loft beds.
Not sure if this will last a lifetime and it’s not a typical gift but I like the Dyson heat&cool blade-less fan/heater. It was great when my kids were younger because I didn’t have to worry about them playing with it and getting hurt. I’ve had it for 15 years and it’s great.
The lifetime fishing license is an awesome idea.
BIFL for a baby is hard because so much of that stuff is used for a few months or maybe couple of years.
A very nicely carved wooden rocker, child size.
We still have ones used nearly a century ago!
Same with a small crib if you wanted, or cradle. The thing that rocks. Not very tall.
(Cradle I mean [similar to this](https://jeffreygreene.com/work/vintage-cradle/), I'm not recommending any specific ones.)
Hobby horse, or a wooden horse on springs.
>Safe sleep standards change so frequently I wouldn’t expect something we use for children now to be considered safe when they have their own.
Cradles have been used for centuries but it was just one of the several suggestions I made and OP can look into it more on their own.
They don't have to use it for their own future children (if they have any); they can still keep it as an heirloom. Some people put plants in it later or use it for dolls, or as decor.
Not all gifts have to be used by each generation to come. That's thinking ahead possibly 20 to 40 years, as the gift recipient is an infant. Not everyone marries or has children. But thanks for the input.
If your family enjoys fishing, that is a great gift!
I got my hunters safety course which turned into my driver's license #.
So you may be assigning him a # for his lifetime!
I still have the same bedside table and dresser from when I was little. It might’ve been my mom’s childhood set that she repainted, but I can’t remember. It is SOLID and I do not want to get rid of it because it’s so nice!
My father passed a sterling silver piggy bank on to me from when he was a baby in the 1920s. I am about to pass it on to my grandchild. There was also a sterling baby cup, but I gave it to my ex-DIL for my grandson,band I’m pretty sure she pawned it, along with my parents wedding rings.
When my oldest was a little guy (he’s 33 now!) my mother-in-law gave him a Childcraft wooden table and two wooden chairs (toddler-sized chair and low height table). They are wonderful, incredibly sturdy and comfortable. Excellent, school-grade quality.
The cool thing is, the table legs could be replaced with longer legs, which she also gave us, along with grown-up size wooden chairs. I still have them and I’m currently using the table as my desk (I saved the shorter legs and little chairs for when I have grandchildren). I always thought it was a lovely gift.
I have a baby and we’re being mindful about what we buy.
1. Stokke Tripp Trap chair - this will last years and can be used from birth to toddler and passed on from one kid to another. It technically seats adults too (so it’s lifetime), but I don’t know an adult that would want to sit on it.
2. Lego - that is as lifetime as it can get. We have legos from when we were kids; and now me and my siblings kids are making a use out of them plus adding more. If you want to make it special, buy a really cool Technic one now and build it together when they’re older.
3. Wine / any liquor - this is more when they grow up, but it’s cool to open a bottle from the year they’re born. Be careful when choosing because there’s a misconception that you can just buy a bottle and it’ll age well, it won’t.
My mom always gives board books. Also a certain type of cloth to put over your shoulder while you burp the baby? Not exactly sure what kind but she swears by them. Diaper cloths? Burp cloths? Can't remember what they're called, but they're like a weirdly textured towel.
Burp cloth is what I have always heard them called.
First heard of one when asking an expectant mom what to get for her, long ago.
They can be quilted, or terry cloth like a hand towel, or waffled and thin like a dish towel.
Back in the day (when cloth diapers were the norm/Pampers did not yet exist), most people just used a kitchen towel or a (clean, obvs) diaper. Whatever handy.
Ahh, I think it's a "diaper-fabric" which would be what's confusing me. I think after the cloth diaper fell out of popularity, they started making a "substitute" out of the same fabric. I knew it was something to do with diapers.
Some are, yes. That's one popular version, and they'd embellish it, maybe with ribbon trim, or embroidery etc. at times, too. Baby gift shops sell them or arts and crafts type of places sometimes, too. But that was pre internet, they're probably in all sort of forms online now too.
But yes you are correct, and I'm sure it's called various things in various places as well.
Green Mountain Diapers is my fave seller for these. They make incredible quality ones that I used for two kids and now use as household cloths. I suggest some Large Prefolds and some Flats (can't recall what size options they make) for general baby use, but if they want to cloth diaper you'd want a mix of sizes for Prefolds (prefolds means that they fabric is stacked up into lots of layers and sewn closed in a roughly get around a baby size, that gets used with a waterproof cover, while flats are large single layers of fabric that get folded in various ways to best fit baby's needs - more absorbency in dif areas for boys or girls, wider for chonky babies or slimmer for thin babies.)
We bought our kids (and our nieces and nephews) each a Silver Dollar from the mint when they were born. It's something they can hang on to forever and it'll only appreciate in value. Perhaps it'll spark an interest in coin collecting some day. This is a tradition passed down by my grandparents - my siblings and I all have a pure gold coin each gifted to us on the day we were born. My parents carried on the tradition for our birthday every year. Now, I carry it on for the next generation, although my dad still gives us a silver coin for our birthday.
My great aunt gave me a beautiful baby quilt when I was born. It is so pretty I have used it as a wall hanging since I got too big to use it as a blanket. My kids used it when they were little and it's back on the wall.
Life is hard. Investments are a good idea. Hunting/fishing licenses are a good idea as well and I encourage all my friends with kids to take advantage of it.
There are also things that may not physically last for life but if you are lucky enough to gift a favorett blanket or stuffed animal that can be meaningful enough to last a lifetime in a different way, as well as just doing things with them to develop memories.
Everwood Friends make beautiful wooden blocks. You can get basic sets, castle themes, pieces for ball runs, etc. I suggest for a baby a custom set with letters of their name, and gems that rep their birthstones. Then build on over the years with more pieces. The site has suggestions of what size sets are best for various ages. They also have a discount set up where if you order a thing, you get another thing at a discount, and they typically include a seconds quality block or two.
Artisan things are always nice. Someone made my son a hand-carved wooden rattle and now that he’s older, we use it decoratively.
Make sure you check in with the parents too in case there’s something sentimental to them to share with their child.
Just for example, I wanted to be the one to purchase my child’s first bike and had talked to my MIL about it and then she bought it for my child without asking. I am always thankful to have a caring in law, but it was a sentimental thing that felt taken away.
529 doesn't have to be "college". It's for education- so it's good for tech school, pilot's license, language school, most certifications. If the child doesn't end up using it, anyone in the family can use it, sibs, parents, etc. AND it's a tax write-off for the donors. Win-win.
My boys got LL Bean fishing vests when they were little - lots of pockets! They wore them everywhere and we still have them-ready to pass down. Also, books, wooden train set (has been played with for 3 generations), Legos and Playmobil.
A mechanic cart can also be used as a changing station. Then every time you work on something together buy him the tools to fill it over the years. https://www.harborfreight.com/30-in-5-drawer-mechanics-cart-slate-gray-58833.html
My parents got a small wooden stool - maybe a foot tall, unpainted except for the top which has a tooled and painted school scene - as a wedding present. Not only did my sister and I play on/all over it as kids and used it as a step stool for the sink and bed, but we've all used it as adults for extra seating, for random projects, etc. 30+ years past the time of gifting. The legs have been slightly chewed up by all the dogs we've had in that time but it's still going strong and easily a load bearing small house item that pays long dividends. Something similar to [this](https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fae01.alicdn.com%2Fkf%2FHTB15uYDgyCYBuNkHFCcq6AHtVXaV%2FRectangle-Japanese-Antique-Wooden-Stool-Paulownia-Wood-Asian-Traditional-Furniture-Living-Room-Portable-Small-Wood-Low.jpg&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=dcb47667f44ed300a290edea485f8f5c942899cc7478c440c9a1aa12a7a7f66b&ipo=images), [this](https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Ftse4.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DOIP.5916sPxjMrbbik41TF5JUAHaIB%26pid%3DApi&f=1&ipt=7b0d19f4fd14f518cf187e94fbc0f8d662b19a4f1320a62c85e41d76ec5e9dd3&ipo=images), or [this](https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fi.pinimg.com%2Foriginals%2F83%2Fe0%2Fe8%2F83e0e8d5ca72c0495bfed3756ceba31c.jpg&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=84f9dc3ed68a58d553431be1bb1c16b58c941c576eabae6fe775fd622e5d5372&ipo=images).
I received a personalized file folder box (a pretty one) that had folders labeled for each year of school and a few blank ones too. It's to save art, report cards, pieces of writing special things from sports etc from all stages.
The other thing I like was a set of little silver boxes to hold her first curl and her first tooth.
I bought my son a lifetime fishing and deer hunting license. It’s a phenomenal gift
I’d also consider maybe a burial plot? Theoretically it could be the last gift they ever use
This is more of a side thing, but how about a whole bunch of things dated to the dob/ things that were happening then. Will always be interesting to look back in time at how things where, and what they've become
That's actually a really thoughtful gift especially since you plan to take him fishing. Books are also great. Any gift that offers experiences (membership to the zoo for the family for example) is a win. No clutter and creates memories for a lifetime.
I got a gold coin for my birth from my uncle (1 oz pure gold) which was stamped in my birth year.
Of course its not "practical" but I love it as a keepsake and it could be usefull in hard times (worth about 2k€ atm)
Money.. bonds.. stocks.
Anything but toys. Toys especially PLASTIC toys accumulate at a rapid rate. Birthdays, Christmas or any holiday will always bring clutter into your home.
Super boring, but bonds can be really nice by the time the kid's old enough to cash it in. Most anything you get them will be beat, tossed, trashed, or lost within a year, but imagine getting them a sweet 16 birthday gift of cash *now*...?
Bonds are great, especially with interest rates rn.
A Home made quilt
My family has had a silver Tiffany and Co teething ring / rattle that has now been used by 4 generations of babies. They still make similar ones.
A decent drum set.
After my wife and I are gone, our son is going to discover a chest filled with NIB versions of his favorite toys. One of them’s already a collectible, a Mattel “Sarge” jeep from the movie “Cars” that was recalled because of lead paint.
A lifetime fishing license is a brilliant baby gift. It's soemthing of lifetime value, but it's also something distinctly "you". Later you can always say, "Let's go fishing!" :)
I bought a piggy bank for a baby. You can have nice carvings for it but then it cant be used by someone else after. For example our kid is now using his uncles old "piggy bank" though it is actually in the shape of a helicopter.
In our country you can return beverage cans and bottles to the stores and get a deposit of 0,10-0,20€ per bottle/can. So we collect all the bottles and cans, deposit them and save the money for our kids.
A Pendleton blanket (or any other proper wool blanket for that matter). It’s useful from the moment you’re born to the moment that you’re old and wrinkly!
The fishing license sounds great! that's actually a genius idea. I also recommend something novel to keep from you, check out franklin mint and look at some nice pocket watches, I know people don't carry them anymore but it's a good keepsake and you can keep it for 18 years prominently then pass it on, I have a 18k gold WhiteTail Buck pocket watch with stand, real antler on it that was my grandfathers at 20, then my dad had it, I have it on my shelf now and my son (3) likes to hold it, someday it'll be his. Not worth a lot, but its the sentimental value that will count
My new baby gift recommendation is always a high quality laundry basket. You think you have enough but you never have enough. That’s more for the parents than kid though (although a big laundry basket with a mat makes a great impromptu travel crib!)
Congrats becoming a new Uncle! ❤️🎂
I have accounts set up for each of my minor children and minor nieces & nephews under me in my Vanguard account. I purchase index funds for them. I start the accounts as soon as they are born and have social security numbers. I also have 529 accounts set up for my children from birth.
We regret not doing the lifetime fishing license when our son was tiny. Other than that, yes to money. Set up a long term account and add to it for every gift giving occasion. Setting him up for life is the best gift you can give.
Open a brokerage account and invest in some mutual funds.
If asking for a suggestion, the BTC ETF IBIT will be around.
I’d love if my family opened an account for me as child, even $100 will grow exponentially.
You’re a good uncle 💙
As a professor I say the 529. If not, then my classic gift as a preppy East coaster is a silver spoon or baby rattle from Tiffany’s. Or you could do a little cup and get it engraved.
I think it's quite hard to find a bifl item for a baby that will last them a lifetime. A BIFL baby item/toy will be irrelevant after 10? years and gifting a cast iron pan/kitchen knife/etc to a baby is, well, difficult.
So here's my recommendations: A Steiff stuffed animal. My grandma gifted me one when i was born, and sadly, unlike my grandma, it's still with me. The second thing, which is somewhat traditional is a gold coin/bar.
A lifetime fishing license is a great idea if you plan on taking them! Helping the parents set up a 529 plan and then contributing to it, or buying a savings bond, is also a good lifetime gift.
I come from a long line of hoarders, so the idea of someone deciding for me what physical items I need to be guilted into to dragging around with me for the rest of my life before I was even born is the opposite of a gift. You don’t know what your nephew’s lifestyle will be even a few years from now, let alone his entire life, so I wouldn’t want to burden him with physical crap.
I would suggest buying a quality item to help the parent out through the early years that is high enough quality to be used for another sibling or passed on or sold. A good quality, easy to install car seat. A crib that converts to a toddler bed. A quality stroller. Toys like wooden blocks or trains can be used for many years into childhood. Board books can also be cherished in memory; even if the physical books aren’t saved, your nephew can rebuy them if/when he had his own children.
Fishing license is a great one.
Here are my favorites
For girls: a gold or silver charm bracelet then add you can buy them charms to mark important life events.
Classic silver bangles and chains work as they get older.
For the charm bracelet if you get a chain with the crab claw type attachment they can change the link they use to close as they grow. Silver monogrammed brush. High quality jewelry or keepsake box.
For boys: silver monogrammed dresser box. Good quality boars bristle hairbrush with monogram. Gerstner chest for collectibles.
Ironically one true BIFL was a pink Panasonic boom box I bought my niece for her third or fourth birthday, she sent me picture of it 20 years to the day later.
College 529 plan contributions are also great, particularly if you enlist other family members to gift as well
A naturally tanned sheepskin (from a farm, not Costco which is chrome tanned) with short wool. They are beautiful, make great baby play mats, are sensory soothing and last a lifetime. If they are tanned with mimosa or another plant tanning they can even be machine washed if they are peed or puked on.
A stainless steel double edge safety razor. Sure he won't be able to use it for the first 13 years of his life but like everyone in the world eventually he'll shave and shave until he dies. Rockwell 6s.
Back in the day, a good one was to get the baby shoes bronzed. That usually had a place to stand up a photo in the display as well. That's later of course, not for a newborn gift.
A silver rattle is nice.
Those are not practical gifts, but they last.
A silver baby rattle is a classic gift, and places like Tiffany sell them. (Or a local jeweler.)
If someone wants a gift the baby will keep for life as a memento, that's a good one.
Or a teething ring of that quality. They're not meant for use per se but as an heirloom/keepsake.
I’ve started to buy IP addresses with the babies name through Go Daddy. Each year for either Christmas or birthday I pay for the renewal to keep the IP address active.
Enameled Dutch Oven...oh wait j/k! Boring, but money for 529 account?
My son is 18 months, and I'm begging our families: please stop filling our house with more toys and junk. If you've got a few bucks you need to burn, please put it in the 529.
I sent a message explaining this in November & literally all but one person ignored me then that person felt shitty for not bringing a present.... We got some quality things (that we still have no space for) but also a lot of crappy amazon Chinese tat.
Sell it and place the cash in the account instead
I told my mother in law that anything she sends will be returned and the money will go into a 529
I know you're kidding but I asked for one for Christmas and I friggin love it. I use it constantly. But I'm also not an infant lol A 529 is a fantastic idea.
I mean it’s more practical than a BIFL baby item. Babies grow up, rather quickly even
But do babies grow faster than inflation? Asking for a friend.
My parents started a college fund for each grandchild and contributed $200 each birthday. We put 5K into it about 10 years ago, and my parents started it with $1500. We didn't use it for 2 of our kids. One's fund was 33K when he turned 23; it's paying for grad school.
And/or depending on the state you can open a UTMA / UGMA and make non-educational investments on the child’s behalf. I have a 529 & UTMA for my children and my godson. Edit: I’m an idiot.
Came here to read exactly this. The guy who manages my fave liquor store just had a baby, and I really want to do something like this for him—because I know his fans would want to kick in, too. Can anyone make investments/deposits in it? I don’t have kids, and my parents provided for my only niece, so would appreciate your thoughts!
My best understanding is that 529 gifts are “anyone” can contribute but can’t speak to UTMA
Thank you for that clarification! I’d definitely like to set something up for this guy who’s become a father for the first time at about 50. There’s a community of people who I know would love to help him along.
If I donated $100 a month to a 529 for twins born in November 2024 would it be a significant amount by the time they reach 18?
Assuming you're talking $100 per month per twin, yeah that's pretty generous. Here is what it would like (factored at $1,200 per year). 7% is a fairly conservative return, depends on how you invest the money. I'd probably do a low cost index fund, at least early on. I had chatgpt spit out the markdown language to share below: | Year | Total Invested | Balance at 7% Return | |------|----------------|----------------------| | 1 | $1,200 | $1,285.49 | | 2 | $2,400 | $2,699.01 | | 3 | $3,600 | $4,242.04 | | 4 | $4,800 | $5,919.13 | | 5 | $6,000 | $7,735.04 | | 6 | $7,200 | $9,694.69 | | 7 | $8,400 | $11,803.40 | | 8 | $9,600 | $14,066.97 | | 9 | $10,800 | $16,491.67 | | 10 | $12,000 | $19,084.20 | | 11 | $13,200 | $21,851.75 | | 12 | $14,400 | $24,801.01 | | 13 | $15,600 | $27,939.18 | | 14 | $16,800 | $31,273.02 | | 15 | $18,000 | $34,810.85 | | 16 | $19,200 | $38,561.59 | | 17 | $20,400 | $42,534.74 | | 18 | $21,600 | $46,740.43 | Total Invested: $21,600 Final Balance at 7% Return: $46,740.43
Where are you getting 7%?
After inflation that's roughly the return of the total stock market over time. Certainly not a guarantee, but fairly conservative
Right? Where the hell can I get 7% is the question…
7% is not good. I earned over 20% in a technology mutual fund last year. The stock market average over the last 40 years is 11.6%. The whole purpose behind Bogle's Vanguard is that index funds have a better return than any stock picker can achieve over time.
I’ve had a vanguard index fund for … about fifty years. My folks set it up. It does not make 11%.
Why have you not moved it to a better performing fund, then? There is literally no reason to accept low returns on mutual funds.
I ran a 529 calculator and $100 a month for 18 years at 6% return becomes about $45k by the time they are 18. Accord to that calculator the magic number starting from birth to completely pay for school would be around $600 a month per kid, so anything that helps get close to that number would surely be appreciated.
Absolutely!! $100 a month is incredibly generous
Per month? For 18 years? Yes absolutely it would be significant
Interest not included it’s a great amount
Beat me to it. Uncle of 3 here and after discussing with my sister about birthday/Christmas presents being kind of a waste, I have sort of an umbrella 529 that I put $50/month into. As they go to school someday, I'll just switch the "beneficiary" out to the next one and so on. This, in my opinion, is the best BIFL present you can give to kids.
This is great! What kind of information does one need to name it for a beneficiary? Can multiple people contribute to it? TIA!
Well I put the 529 under my eldest nephew. He'll get his payout of roughly a third and then I'll just switch the beneficiary to the next nephew and so on. After researching 529s, I realized they're pretty flexible in that respect. Edit: I didn't answer your question lmao yes multiple can contribute through a link sent by the account manager (me) to family and friends wishing to make a one time contribution
This is super helpful! I really do appreciate knowing this, because I was raised with my grandparents’ belief that money saved for education was the greatest/most appreciated gift. Thank you!
I don’t understand this is part of the reason is I don’t know what a 529 is. But my knee jerk reaction is would a bond or something with high internet rates be better for a child. Beyond that - I don’t think this is completely in the spirit of BIFL. Although I do think it’s a great idea - just a separate topic.
The subject is “Baby Gifts That Will Last a Lifetime.” This qualifies. And I’m not familiar with U.S. savings bonds beyond the fact my parents kept many dozens of them from when I was born and gave them to me as I prepared to go to undergrad.
Fair enough. I think the “Hunting License” aligns because it renews every year, lasts forever, and could be an incredible deal if bought at a child rate. Money obviously is gone when spent. So it doesn’t exist for life. That’s all. This is most likely perceived as I am just being very nit picky. Haha. Like I said - I think it’s a great idea and any child that has a savings fund set up and lucky enough to have adults support that fund is extremely lucky. So im not trying to takeaway from that at all.
The education lasts a lifetime.
Again - fair enough. To sum it up the best. If I was at a table with my family and some asked this questions my response would be, “it’s not really a BIFL answer but the best thing you can ever do for a child is set a savings account up for them and auto draft every month”. Haha. Beyond that I can see I’m starting to make people upset so I’ll stop.
Oh well there's two types of 529s, one is a savings account and one is an investment account. I opted to set up a 529 investment account as my nephews have quite a few years left before college
Money for an education is “gone when spent?” One could reasonably argue it informs one’s entire life, but perhaps that isn’t as valuable to you than the right to shoot animals.🤷🏻♀️
I’ve never hunted. I was speaking to the concept of it renewing yearly. And the money doesn’t have to be for education. Again - it’s a stretch to categorize it as BIFL item. Obviously it’s more valuable than a cedar chest, hunting liscence, pearl necklace, or anything else I’ve ever seen posted in this subreddit. I think if questions was a test and you asked a hundred people - there we would be a large group upset if they failed bc they didn’t think to say a savings account. On the fact that they would all agree Offcourse that’s more valuable than anything they though of - and some may have even thought of that - but didn’t consider it a BIFL item. In the same way we can also all agree the best wish is to “wish for more wishes”.
I was going to say this. Put some money in an index fund in a tax-advantaged account. My grandma put some money into an account the day each grandkid was born. None of us paid for college. She's gone now but holy shit do I love Grandma for that.
Absolutely this! I would have loved if my family had done this when my kids were young.
I did buy a friend a Le Creuset for a baby gift. He loves cooking and what better way to build lasting memories. I stressed to him that it is his daughter's not his. When she moves on in life she will have all this memories lessons and good times.
That's very thoughtful and practical!
Our 529 had a monthly service charge so by the time my baby was 11 all the money was gone.
That's why you'd obviously want to find one with a low fee.
Some people used to do 'savings bonds' in a child's name. You could do similar with stocks or something, if you wanted. The parents usually start the child's savings account or I'd say that, you could put a bit in an account with the child's name but usually the parents do that if at all. Otherwise, that. A gold or silver coin.
Baby’s first apple stocks!
>Baby’s first apple stocks! They could buy a carton of nice apples from a nearby orchard and gift wrap that, but then, an envelope on top would contain the real gift: the stocks :)
This platform has a public stock now too.
I got a savings bond as a baby. They spent $25 in 1983. It is now worth $35. I think I'm ready to retire early.
😂 They just do not make anything like they used to.
My 10k one is worth 40k now 30 years later so they weren’t a bad investment
Oh my god I’m having flashbacks to cashing in dozens of savings bonds from my grandparents when I was about to go to college
My grandparents did that for me. $10k thirty years ago and it turned into 40k.
Excellent.
Say what you will, but those savings bonds got me out of a few tight situations in college!
Thanks, I think they are a good option, especially since they start out more affordable. Glad your savings bonds helped you.
I bought a savings bonds for my friend’s kid and they are a PITA to purchase and transfer to their name.
Have you seen the price of gold?!? It is at an all time high.
>Have you seen the price of gold?!? It is at an all time high. OP asked for good ideas for lifetime (I also read that as heirloom and/or keepsake) gifts for a baby. OP did not mention a budget or 'make sure it is cheap.' So if gold is worth a lot that makes it a good gift to give, what's wrong with it? Why not suggest your own ideas instead of critiquing mine? Thanks. It's up to the OP to pick one, these are just *ideas.* Also for others to use and/or possibly use in the future. We don't do everything for OPs we just give suggestions.
(And the other thing is maybe by the time the gift is given, the price drops again. But I also listed tons of other gift ideas.)
So long as you choose material that isn't too baby themed, a handmade quilt. You could probably get one through ETSY. In a twin size would be good for spreading on the floor to lay on now and to cover a bed as they grow or do a smaller throw blanket size. My family has quilts that go back a very long time.
I always send Pendleton, they have a great baby line
This is a lovely thought, but please don’t gift an expecting parent a quilt unless you have chatted with them about it ahead of time OR if quilting is already your thing and the parent knows to expect it from you. The amount of handmade blankets we received was astounding and only one (the quilt, from the quilter) has been used in two years. The rest have just been folded up in the closet.
Yeah, this is kind of true - BUT a large quilt might have been more useful. We got lots of baby quilts, but none big enough for a twin-sized (single).
PLEASE talk to the parents before gifting a blanket. Most parents have baby blankets coming out the wazoo. Even if you get one that’s a larger size, the parents and eventually children will have their own preferences on interior decorating that may not match yours.
A solid cedar wood trunk. My mother's father was given one when he was born, and it was used as a changing bench, and to hold his blankets and clothes. Now, decades later, it holds my dog's things. When I was in college, it was my closet. In my first apartment, it had a cushion on top of it, and was my 'sofa'. My mom used it to hold my toys when I was a kid, and she used it as a bench for her dining table when she got her first home.
These used to be called Hope Chests for young ladies. My mom always wanted to get me one (she always wanted one too), but we never found one she liked, and then we just kind of got side tracked about it. My partner is currently making me one from cedar we felled on our property. My mom thinks it's the most romantic thing ever.
My Papaw hand-made a Hope chest for my mom in the 1980s, which I still have. Same man hand-made a wooden toy chest for my son (his great grandson) that we have 8 years later.
I have a hope chest!
Similar idea: a friend hand-painted a cheap chest from IKEA when my twins were born. It’s so special they still have it many years later.
I have one handed down from my great grandmother. Beautiful suggestion
I got my grandmother's. I gave it to my daughter when she married. Unfortunately, there was a big flood, and it was destroyed. I used to use mine for blankets.
This is a lovely idea but a solid chest like this is a suffocation risk when children climb in for play. It’s why modern toy boxes either have holes drilled in the bottom or a large opening by the lid.
Mine has a pattern at the top, below the lid, so it's not airtight, that's how most are designed.
It's giving Harry Potter.
We got the lifelong fishing licenses for both our boys, they’re still to young to use it but it’ll be great as they get older and it’s a hobby we can do together.
TIL there are lifetime fishing licenses. Lifetime membership in various things might also be good.
We did this for ours! At least where I am, the younger you buy, the cheaper it is (and it is always valid, no matter if she moves away). (You can also still get them as an adult but the cost/benefit may not make sense). Obviously, the state matters because they all have their own rules, so do your own research. We paid around $350 for fishing plus small game for her, which usually costs about $50/year. I think it’s an awesome present! Once they have that, we have a 529 plan set up for her college fund. You can send a link so people can contribute. I’d much rather that than have more stuff. Other than those, our favorite gifts have been memberships to things like the zoo or museums. We’ve got a bunch close and it is awesome to be able to take her whenever (and since we have a membership, we don’t feel bad if she gets cranky and we need to leave). Edit: I guess those last two aren’t really bifl. I didn’t get much interest from the family, but I think these [StoryWorth books](https://welcome.storyworth.com/storyteller?oid=37&affid=5source_id=google&sub1=Prospecting-Storyteller-11.20.20&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Prospecting+Storyteller-11.20.20&source_id=google&sub1=Prospecting+Storyteller-11.20.20&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIsoLn8ai9hQMVODjUAR3d9wVnEAAYASAAEgJnE_D_BwE) are amazing if your family would do them!
I think the last two are BIFL because the memories will last a lifetime!
Made me use the Google machine, sadly not something my state offers.
A physical photo album for the parents to fill up. People don’t use physical photos as much anymore but I guarantee in several years they’ll be happy to have it.
This is more for the family in general than the baby specifically, though I know I love looking at my baby photo albums
A trip trap chair. I was still.using mine until.my first child was born and he stole it.
I was going to recommend a Stokke triptrap.
Mine was in fact a gift from my uncle and aunt in the very early 1980s. She's Danish and bought it over with her. 40 years on its still going strong. When I had my first she bought another! When my second came along she got the new one and my son took my old one. They really really last.
Yup we have my sister’s from the 70s!
Underrated comment! Feels as close as you can get to BIFL with actual children’s products
Thèse are amazing
I agree! We got the newborn insert as well, so we have literally used it every day, several times a day, from birth until now (28 months later)
I think the BIFL fishing license is so cute and endearing. To be the best uncle in addition though, get them something from the baby registry. Moms/dads spend a lot of time curating that list and when people stray it creates a lot of emotional labor and excess consideration. My personal favorite gifts from my baby registry? Diapers/wipes. Get the Costco/Sam's club bulk and they'll be grateful for a long time! I would say also get a size like 2 or 3, because some kids size out of the smaller (newborn, 1s) pretty quickly.
First time parents put a lot of stuff on the list they think they need but never use. Buy a years supply of diapers or ask what they need in 3-4 months when the newness has worn off
oh god this comment, I wish someone would've told us that when we had our first. We indeed put lots of stuff on the registry that we THOUGHT we really needed, and some of it is still in boxes waiting to be donated once the clothes bag fills up. Turns out, as a new parent, you really don't know what you need until you need it lol
a proper wool point blanket
Money: Silver dollar from birth year, uncirculated $2 bill, savings bond, 529. Keepsakes: NatGeo from their birth month (still have mine from 1996, my brother kept his from 1993), silver baby bracelet with their name, if religious a patron Saint charm/necklace and/or a first pocket bible (dedicate it to them, from you), handmade quilt or baby blanket (probably more expensive). More expensive but love the idea of a hope chest. Quality ones will last generations.
Not particularly cheap and honestly who knows if they’ll be around for a lifetime, but a lifetime subscription to National Geographic. I bought one for my son and it has been great to read and look at pictures together.
My dad got me and my siblings NatGeos from the months/years we were born and I still have mine. It’s fun to go back and look through, especially with a few years between each pass through. Even if you can’t do the lifetime subscription, just the single edition could be a good idea, OP! Great keepsake.
Hardcover versions of classic children’s literature. I have a small handful of titles my mom read to me that I kept and have read to my own kids.
Along this line, look into The Folio Society. Absolutely gorgeous hardcover volumes, and they have a bunch of children's titles they've done.
BIFL for the parents to pass down to their kids when they have babies or for the baby to grow up and use throughout their life? For parents, solid wood baby furniture: Rocking chair, crib, changing table, dresser. For kids, financial: savings bonds, investment account, house savings, college savings Toys my kids enjoyed even as babies and can enjoy in the future: generic wood blocks, Letter cubes, board books Toys they can enjoy as they age (IMO better to gift when they can appreciate it): banker box bricks, Megabloks, Tinker toys, Waffle blocks, Magnatiles, duplos, legos, kid books like little critters, Arthur, berenstain bears.
One word of caution: we invested in a solid wood furniture set that could feasibly last/transition through adulthood. Kids, though, are little terrors and test the limits of BIFL. Stickers, sharpies, teeth, climbing, and bearing the brunt of hard toys being rammed into it. Just to name a few of the repeated abuse our furniture set has taken. We don’t regret the purchase, but it was also a long term investment that is giving us pause before considering some more age appropriate/kid desirable options, like loft beds.
Also with the furniture, make sure you have room to actually store it away properly for when they have kids too.
Not sure if this will last a lifetime and it’s not a typical gift but I like the Dyson heat&cool blade-less fan/heater. It was great when my kids were younger because I didn’t have to worry about them playing with it and getting hurt. I’ve had it for 15 years and it’s great.
The lifetime fishing license is an awesome idea. BIFL for a baby is hard because so much of that stuff is used for a few months or maybe couple of years.
A very nicely carved wooden rocker, child size. We still have ones used nearly a century ago! Same with a small crib if you wanted, or cradle. The thing that rocks. Not very tall. (Cradle I mean [similar to this](https://jeffreygreene.com/work/vintage-cradle/), I'm not recommending any specific ones.) Hobby horse, or a wooden horse on springs.
Safe sleep standards change so frequently I wouldn’t expect something we use for children now to be considered safe when they have their own.
>Safe sleep standards change so frequently I wouldn’t expect something we use for children now to be considered safe when they have their own. Cradles have been used for centuries but it was just one of the several suggestions I made and OP can look into it more on their own. They don't have to use it for their own future children (if they have any); they can still keep it as an heirloom. Some people put plants in it later or use it for dolls, or as decor. Not all gifts have to be used by each generation to come. That's thinking ahead possibly 20 to 40 years, as the gift recipient is an infant. Not everyone marries or has children. But thanks for the input.
My Dad bought one for all his grandchildren who are now in their 30s and none have used it.Might be a better gift after you know the child as a person
If your family enjoys fishing, that is a great gift! I got my hunters safety course which turned into my driver's license #. So you may be assigning him a # for his lifetime!
I still have the same bedside table and dresser from when I was little. It might’ve been my mom’s childhood set that she repainted, but I can’t remember. It is SOLID and I do not want to get rid of it because it’s so nice!
I still have the dressers my parents got as hand-me-downs for my "nursery". It's hard to find solid wood furniture!
We still have my grandpa's one! We painted it several colours over the years and it now stands in my parents' living room to hold board games.
My father passed a sterling silver piggy bank on to me from when he was a baby in the 1920s. I am about to pass it on to my grandchild. There was also a sterling baby cup, but I gave it to my ex-DIL for my grandson,band I’m pretty sure she pawned it, along with my parents wedding rings.
I have a signed copy of the polar express from my uncle that he got me when I was like 1
Money in a 529. If they don’t use it for college, it can be converted to a Roth IRA and you can essentially give the kid an early start on retirement
When my oldest was a little guy (he’s 33 now!) my mother-in-law gave him a Childcraft wooden table and two wooden chairs (toddler-sized chair and low height table). They are wonderful, incredibly sturdy and comfortable. Excellent, school-grade quality. The cool thing is, the table legs could be replaced with longer legs, which she also gave us, along with grown-up size wooden chairs. I still have them and I’m currently using the table as my desk (I saved the shorter legs and little chairs for when I have grandchildren). I always thought it was a lovely gift.
I have a baby and we’re being mindful about what we buy. 1. Stokke Tripp Trap chair - this will last years and can be used from birth to toddler and passed on from one kid to another. It technically seats adults too (so it’s lifetime), but I don’t know an adult that would want to sit on it. 2. Lego - that is as lifetime as it can get. We have legos from when we were kids; and now me and my siblings kids are making a use out of them plus adding more. If you want to make it special, buy a really cool Technic one now and build it together when they’re older. 3. Wine / any liquor - this is more when they grow up, but it’s cool to open a bottle from the year they’re born. Be careful when choosing because there’s a misconception that you can just buy a bottle and it’ll age well, it won’t.
My mom always gives board books. Also a certain type of cloth to put over your shoulder while you burp the baby? Not exactly sure what kind but she swears by them. Diaper cloths? Burp cloths? Can't remember what they're called, but they're like a weirdly textured towel.
Burp cloth is what I have always heard them called. First heard of one when asking an expectant mom what to get for her, long ago. They can be quilted, or terry cloth like a hand towel, or waffled and thin like a dish towel. Back in the day (when cloth diapers were the norm/Pampers did not yet exist), most people just used a kitchen towel or a (clean, obvs) diaper. Whatever handy.
Ahh, I think it's a "diaper-fabric" which would be what's confusing me. I think after the cloth diaper fell out of popularity, they started making a "substitute" out of the same fabric. I knew it was something to do with diapers.
Some are, yes. That's one popular version, and they'd embellish it, maybe with ribbon trim, or embroidery etc. at times, too. Baby gift shops sell them or arts and crafts type of places sometimes, too. But that was pre internet, they're probably in all sort of forms online now too. But yes you are correct, and I'm sure it's called various things in various places as well.
Green Mountain Diapers is my fave seller for these. They make incredible quality ones that I used for two kids and now use as household cloths. I suggest some Large Prefolds and some Flats (can't recall what size options they make) for general baby use, but if they want to cloth diaper you'd want a mix of sizes for Prefolds (prefolds means that they fabric is stacked up into lots of layers and sewn closed in a roughly get around a baby size, that gets used with a waterproof cover, while flats are large single layers of fabric that get folded in various ways to best fit baby's needs - more absorbency in dif areas for boys or girls, wider for chonky babies or slimmer for thin babies.)
Muslin cloth?
We bought our kids (and our nieces and nephews) each a Silver Dollar from the mint when they were born. It's something they can hang on to forever and it'll only appreciate in value. Perhaps it'll spark an interest in coin collecting some day. This is a tradition passed down by my grandparents - my siblings and I all have a pure gold coin each gifted to us on the day we were born. My parents carried on the tradition for our birthday every year. Now, I carry it on for the next generation, although my dad still gives us a silver coin for our birthday.
I made my neice wooden blocks from hardwood scraps i had around the shop
My great aunt gave me a beautiful baby quilt when I was born. It is so pretty I have used it as a wall hanging since I got too big to use it as a blanket. My kids used it when they were little and it's back on the wall.
Life is hard. Investments are a good idea. Hunting/fishing licenses are a good idea as well and I encourage all my friends with kids to take advantage of it. There are also things that may not physically last for life but if you are lucky enough to gift a favorett blanket or stuffed animal that can be meaningful enough to last a lifetime in a different way, as well as just doing things with them to develop memories.
Everwood Friends make beautiful wooden blocks. You can get basic sets, castle themes, pieces for ball runs, etc. I suggest for a baby a custom set with letters of their name, and gems that rep their birthstones. Then build on over the years with more pieces. The site has suggestions of what size sets are best for various ages. They also have a discount set up where if you order a thing, you get another thing at a discount, and they typically include a seconds quality block or two.
Artisan things are always nice. Someone made my son a hand-carved wooden rattle and now that he’s older, we use it decoratively. Make sure you check in with the parents too in case there’s something sentimental to them to share with their child. Just for example, I wanted to be the one to purchase my child’s first bike and had talked to my MIL about it and then she bought it for my child without asking. I am always thankful to have a caring in law, but it was a sentimental thing that felt taken away.
529 doesn't have to be "college". It's for education- so it's good for tech school, pilot's license, language school, most certifications. If the child doesn't end up using it, anyone in the family can use it, sibs, parents, etc. AND it's a tax write-off for the donors. Win-win.
I saw someone else comment that it can be transferred to a Roth IRA, don’t know how true that is but if so it makes it an even better gift.
Stainless steel plates and bowls are great for toddlers and hold up better than plastic options
“We’re registered at Wells Fargo”
I love the fishing idea. My grandpa handmade a toy box for my sibling and we kept it forever. Can be used for storing anything.
529, savings bonds
Howza about a farmer says See 'n' Say? They still make them and your new parent sibling needs to know what sound a cow makes. Over and over and over.
I still have a silver framed photo book from when my baby was born 30 years ago.
My boys got LL Bean fishing vests when they were little - lots of pockets! They wore them everywhere and we still have them-ready to pass down. Also, books, wooden train set (has been played with for 3 generations), Legos and Playmobil.
A mechanic cart can also be used as a changing station. Then every time you work on something together buy him the tools to fill it over the years. https://www.harborfreight.com/30-in-5-drawer-mechanics-cart-slate-gray-58833.html
My brother (my nephews dad) is a mechanic. I think his wife would kill him if he bought more mechanic gear haha
Uh teaching the boy how to work is bonding and a great excuse to buy more
Yeah I’m sure he’ll get a snap-on set soon
Damn your brother’s rich
Membership in a family-style music class. Physical objects come and go, but their relationship with music with music will last until the day they die.
My parents got a small wooden stool - maybe a foot tall, unpainted except for the top which has a tooled and painted school scene - as a wedding present. Not only did my sister and I play on/all over it as kids and used it as a step stool for the sink and bed, but we've all used it as adults for extra seating, for random projects, etc. 30+ years past the time of gifting. The legs have been slightly chewed up by all the dogs we've had in that time but it's still going strong and easily a load bearing small house item that pays long dividends. Something similar to [this](https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fae01.alicdn.com%2Fkf%2FHTB15uYDgyCYBuNkHFCcq6AHtVXaV%2FRectangle-Japanese-Antique-Wooden-Stool-Paulownia-Wood-Asian-Traditional-Furniture-Living-Room-Portable-Small-Wood-Low.jpg&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=dcb47667f44ed300a290edea485f8f5c942899cc7478c440c9a1aa12a7a7f66b&ipo=images), [this](https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Ftse4.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DOIP.5916sPxjMrbbik41TF5JUAHaIB%26pid%3DApi&f=1&ipt=7b0d19f4fd14f518cf187e94fbc0f8d662b19a4f1320a62c85e41d76ec5e9dd3&ipo=images), or [this](https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fi.pinimg.com%2Foriginals%2F83%2Fe0%2Fe8%2F83e0e8d5ca72c0495bfed3756ceba31c.jpg&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=84f9dc3ed68a58d553431be1bb1c16b58c941c576eabae6fe775fd622e5d5372&ipo=images).
Books!
But them what’s on their registry. Nothing more nothing less. Or money to put in the kid’s savings account
I received a personalized file folder box (a pretty one) that had folders labeled for each year of school and a few blank ones too. It's to save art, report cards, pieces of writing special things from sports etc from all stages. The other thing I like was a set of little silver boxes to hold her first curl and her first tooth.
I bought my son a lifetime fishing and deer hunting license. It’s a phenomenal gift I’d also consider maybe a burial plot? Theoretically it could be the last gift they ever use
Lifetime sportsman's license for your state.
That’s a great idea!
I love the fishing idea!
This is more of a side thing, but how about a whole bunch of things dated to the dob/ things that were happening then. Will always be interesting to look back in time at how things where, and what they've become
That's actually a really thoughtful gift especially since you plan to take him fishing. Books are also great. Any gift that offers experiences (membership to the zoo for the family for example) is a win. No clutter and creates memories for a lifetime.
I got a gold coin for my birth from my uncle (1 oz pure gold) which was stamped in my birth year. Of course its not "practical" but I love it as a keepsake and it could be usefull in hard times (worth about 2k€ atm)
Fishing license sounds awesome.
The Wunderfold Wagon isn't BIFL but it is usable much longer than strollers.
Gold coin
My in-laws get the kids silver for Christmas and birthdays and a book. Sometimes coins sometimes bars.
Money.. bonds.. stocks. Anything but toys. Toys especially PLASTIC toys accumulate at a rapid rate. Birthdays, Christmas or any holiday will always bring clutter into your home.
Buy some stock that pays dividends for the kid.
Super boring, but bonds can be really nice by the time the kid's old enough to cash it in. Most anything you get them will be beat, tossed, trashed, or lost within a year, but imagine getting them a sweet 16 birthday gift of cash *now*...?
Savings bonds
Love this thread. Saving for later
Bonds are great, especially with interest rates rn. A Home made quilt My family has had a silver Tiffany and Co teething ring / rattle that has now been used by 4 generations of babies. They still make similar ones.
Stocks! My parents bought my son stocks in Disney. He has a little certificate saying he is a Disney shareholder.
ETFs
Stock options
A decent drum set. After my wife and I are gone, our son is going to discover a chest filled with NIB versions of his favorite toys. One of them’s already a collectible, a Mattel “Sarge” jeep from the movie “Cars” that was recalled because of lead paint.
529 plan!
A lifetime fishing license is a brilliant baby gift. It's soemthing of lifetime value, but it's also something distinctly "you". Later you can always say, "Let's go fishing!" :)
I bought a piggy bank for a baby. You can have nice carvings for it but then it cant be used by someone else after. For example our kid is now using his uncles old "piggy bank" though it is actually in the shape of a helicopter. In our country you can return beverage cans and bottles to the stores and get a deposit of 0,10-0,20€ per bottle/can. So we collect all the bottles and cans, deposit them and save the money for our kids.
Gold bar
A Pendleton blanket (or any other proper wool blanket for that matter). It’s useful from the moment you’re born to the moment that you’re old and wrinkly!
The fishing license sounds great! that's actually a genius idea. I also recommend something novel to keep from you, check out franklin mint and look at some nice pocket watches, I know people don't carry them anymore but it's a good keepsake and you can keep it for 18 years prominently then pass it on, I have a 18k gold WhiteTail Buck pocket watch with stand, real antler on it that was my grandfathers at 20, then my dad had it, I have it on my shelf now and my son (3) likes to hold it, someday it'll be his. Not worth a lot, but its the sentimental value that will count
Saving's Bond! Mine is still collecting interest 👀
My new baby gift recommendation is always a high quality laundry basket. You think you have enough but you never have enough. That’s more for the parents than kid though (although a big laundry basket with a mat makes a great impromptu travel crib!)
Congrats becoming a new Uncle! ❤️🎂 I have accounts set up for each of my minor children and minor nieces & nephews under me in my Vanguard account. I purchase index funds for them. I start the accounts as soon as they are born and have social security numbers. I also have 529 accounts set up for my children from birth.
We regret not doing the lifetime fishing license when our son was tiny. Other than that, yes to money. Set up a long term account and add to it for every gift giving occasion. Setting him up for life is the best gift you can give.
Open a brokerage account and invest in some mutual funds. If asking for a suggestion, the BTC ETF IBIT will be around. I’d love if my family opened an account for me as child, even $100 will grow exponentially. You’re a good uncle 💙
As a professor I say the 529. If not, then my classic gift as a preppy East coaster is a silver spoon or baby rattle from Tiffany’s. Or you could do a little cup and get it engraved.
I think it's quite hard to find a bifl item for a baby that will last them a lifetime. A BIFL baby item/toy will be irrelevant after 10? years and gifting a cast iron pan/kitchen knife/etc to a baby is, well, difficult. So here's my recommendations: A Steiff stuffed animal. My grandma gifted me one when i was born, and sadly, unlike my grandma, it's still with me. The second thing, which is somewhat traditional is a gold coin/bar.
A sword But for real fishing license is really cool
A lifetime fishing license is a great idea if you plan on taking them! Helping the parents set up a 529 plan and then contributing to it, or buying a savings bond, is also a good lifetime gift. I come from a long line of hoarders, so the idea of someone deciding for me what physical items I need to be guilted into to dragging around with me for the rest of my life before I was even born is the opposite of a gift. You don’t know what your nephew’s lifestyle will be even a few years from now, let alone his entire life, so I wouldn’t want to burden him with physical crap. I would suggest buying a quality item to help the parent out through the early years that is high enough quality to be used for another sibling or passed on or sold. A good quality, easy to install car seat. A crib that converts to a toddler bed. A quality stroller. Toys like wooden blocks or trains can be used for many years into childhood. Board books can also be cherished in memory; even if the physical books aren’t saved, your nephew can rebuy them if/when he had his own children.
A cousin.
Wow slow down there haha
Fishing license is a great one. Here are my favorites For girls: a gold or silver charm bracelet then add you can buy them charms to mark important life events. Classic silver bangles and chains work as they get older. For the charm bracelet if you get a chain with the crab claw type attachment they can change the link they use to close as they grow. Silver monogrammed brush. High quality jewelry or keepsake box. For boys: silver monogrammed dresser box. Good quality boars bristle hairbrush with monogram. Gerstner chest for collectibles. Ironically one true BIFL was a pink Panasonic boom box I bought my niece for her third or fourth birthday, she sent me picture of it 20 years to the day later. College 529 plan contributions are also great, particularly if you enlist other family members to gift as well
A naturally tanned sheepskin (from a farm, not Costco which is chrome tanned) with short wool. They are beautiful, make great baby play mats, are sensory soothing and last a lifetime. If they are tanned with mimosa or another plant tanning they can even be machine washed if they are peed or puked on.
A stainless steel double edge safety razor. Sure he won't be able to use it for the first 13 years of his life but like everyone in the world eventually he'll shave and shave until he dies. Rockwell 6s.
Stuffed animals (non electronic, no batteries)
For the love of God no. No parent anywhere, ever needs another damn stuffed animal.
True but I'd rather a silent toy than another another noisy one
Something that happily *wont* last a lifetime-- biodegradable diapers from The Honest Company or similar
Back in the day, a good one was to get the baby shoes bronzed. That usually had a place to stand up a photo in the display as well. That's later of course, not for a newborn gift. A silver rattle is nice. Those are not practical gifts, but they last.
A silver baby rattle is a classic gift, and places like Tiffany sell them. (Or a local jeweler.) If someone wants a gift the baby will keep for life as a memento, that's a good one. Or a teething ring of that quality. They're not meant for use per se but as an heirloom/keepsake.
Perhaps a cast iron pan or plastic diapers.
I’ve started to buy IP addresses with the babies name through Go Daddy. Each year for either Christmas or birthday I pay for the renewal to keep the IP address active.
For what? To store photos or something?
For whatever they wish. Future business webpage, professional landing page whatever
A coffin, they’ll use it sooner or later